ARC Two-fer Review – Freed (Club Sin #4) by Stacey Kennedy

I loved the message in Freed; that life doesn’t end at 40 or when you lose a partner; that desire and love are for anyone no matter what age; that you can still honor the one you loved by making sure you take care of yourself and your needs and that you absolutely must live your life to the fullest. ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
Mary Schmidt knows only too well how thrilling a Master’s touch can be. Her husband, Charles, had been her ultimate fantasy, a seducer in the erotic dance of dominance and submission. She misses the sensual lifestyle they shared, but mourns him so deeply she cannot bear to embrace her submissive needs with another Dom—until a man who exudes temptation reawakens desires she can no longer deny.

Elliott Foster is dazzled by Mary. He instantly knows that she’s the woman he’s been waiting for—a woman who turns games into need. As her Master, he dares to unlock the deepest pleasures of her flesh, releasing her from pain and healing her mind. When Mary’s lithe body comes to life under his, he knows their connection goes beyond sex. Now that he has found the perfect woman, the perfect partner, the perfect submissive, he desires only to give her everything she craves.

Review copy provided for an honest review

Every time I read one of author Stacey Kennedy’s Club Sin books I wonder if it will hold up to the others in the series because she has set the bar very high for herself in this series. I honestly didn’t know if she could come close to the emotional level I felt in the last book Desired but she did exactly that in Freed. This book is a different kind of journey as this couple is older; he is divorced and she was widowed 4 years ago and has still not gotten over the loss of her husband and Dom. While this book is part of the Club Sin series, it does not take place at Club Sin but Club Sin’s owner Dimitri and his sub Presley appear several times throughout this book. I always appreciate books written about older couples as it reiterates the fact that life and love doesn’t end if you don’t let it. Life happens, sometimes it deals you crappy cards and sometimes it gives you a second chance and you just have to be willing to accept it and while that process is never easy sometimes you just have let go and allow yourself to be freed.

Mary Schmidt lost her husband, the father of her children, and her Dom four years ago and while she has continued her medical practice and thinks she’s happy and living her life when she meets a man who not only makes her body stand up and take notice but her submissive it shakes her to her very core. Elliott Foster can’t believe his luck when his business partner Dimitri introduces him to a woman that appeals to all parts of him but finding that she still grieves for her late husband makes him nervous but recognizing that she responds to his dominate side makes him realize she’s not being true to herself.

I really enjoyed watching Mary go through the process of accepting a new Dom, dealing with her grief and loss, and realizing that she deserved to love and submit again. It was highly emotional watching her come to terms with the fact that it was okay for her to live and love again. I give Elliott a lot of credit for realizing her needs, helping her through her grief, and pushing her to be true to herself, him, and her late husband. Even when it made him miserable I admire him for his “tough love” approach to force Mary into opening her eyes and dealing with her feelings so she could move forward.

The one thing I have always loved about Stacey Kennedy’s Club Sin series is she doesn’t shy away from the problems and intricacies of a Dom/sub relationship once feelings and love are involved. I loved the message in Freed; that life doesn’t end at 40 or when you lose a partner; that desire and love are for anyone no matter what age; that you can still honor the one you loved by making sure you take care of yourself and your needs and that you absolutely must live your life to the fullest. Ms. Julian you have done it again and if I could I would hug you so hard for writing such an amazing story!

This was a total delight of a book with great characters, an interesting story line and sex scenes so hot they singe your fingers on the page! ~ Shadow, Guilty Pleasures

This was a total delight of a book with great characters, an interesting story line and sex scenes so hot they singe your fingers on the page!

Mary Schmidt is still mourning the death of her husband and Dom, Charles, when she attends a play party and meets Elliott Foster. Elliott has been searching for years for a submissive like Mary, one who is stable but has fire inside, someone who is not a doormat, but gives him her submission willingly.

Mary feels the connection between as strongly as Elliott but chooses to ignore it, feeling as if she is betraying Charles. Elliott understands her feelings, but isn’t willing to totally give up on the one woman who can make his dreams come true. Can he convince her to live her life instead of staying in the twilight in which she has been existing?

I loved the fact that both the hero and heroine were older and experienced. The emotional attachment between them was as powerful as any I’ve read and the story kept me captivated. All around an enjoyable, can’t put it down story by a talented author.

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